SOCCER

SOCCER; Youth Plays Vital Role In M.L.S.

By ALEX YANNIS

Published: July 28, 2001

Don Garber, the Major League Soccer commissioner, presented a rather favorable picture in his state-of-the-league address yesterday and said the league would announce later this year whether it would expand beyond its current 12 teams.

He spoke in a conference call from San Jose, Calif., a day before the league's sixth All-Star Game. The game will be today at Spartan Stadium, where in 1996 the league's inaugural game was played.

Garber said that there were no ''lightning in a bottle'' solutions for M.L.S. but that ''meaningful improvements'' were contributing to the long-term growth and survival of the league.

''Our greatest progress has taken place on the field,'' Garber said. ''Without a doubt, across all measures, there is universal agreement that the quality of play in M.L.S. has made great strides since 1996. Simply put, our players are better, our coaches are better and our games are better.''

Garber discussed the development of American talent, saying that several players have contributed to the success of the national team and to the elevation of the league's caliber of play.

''Bruce Arena will tell you that without the consistent play of M.L.S. stars, his team would not be where it is today,'' Garber said, referring to the national team's coach.

Today's game will include the first 16-year-old All-Star in professional sports, Santino Quaranta of D.C. United. The 19-year-olds Landon Donovan of the San Jose Earthquakes and DaMarcus Beasley of the Chicago Fire will also play. Bobby Convey of D.C. United, who is 18, was selected for the game but will not play because he had hernia surgery.

As he did last year, Garber emphasized the importance of soccer-specific stadiums to the success of M.L.S. The first such stadium was built in 1999 in Columbus, Ohio, by Lamar Hunt, who operates the Columbus Crew along with his son, Clark. Garber said the Los Angeles Galaxy will break ground next month for a $112 million complex, which will also serve as the training center for national teams.

''The driving factor in the success of our business is our need to play in appropriate venues,'' Garber said.

Garber said expansion would not take place before 2003 and the league would announce any expansion plans the week of the M.L.S. Cup, which will be played Oct. 21.

He said New York, Philadelphia, Houston, Rochester, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Atlanta, Louisville, Ky., and the Carolinas were candidates for expansion. The investor-operators of the MetroStars have the right to another team in the New York metropolitan area.